The two phones are critical to Nokia's continued survival. While the Lumia 900 was a modest success for AT&T, its performance didn't wow anyone. Nokia is hoping for better this time around.

Still, the phones face significant competition. In addition to a large lineup of Android smartphones and the iPhone 5, they will also compete against HTC's own Windows Phone 8X, which Microsoft has deemed the flagship phone for its new Windows Phone 8 operating system.

Nokia previously announced the phones at its own event last month. The Lumia 920 features are the same: an 8-megapixel PureView camera, built-in wireless charging, a 4.5-inch ClearBlack display made of Gorilla Glass 2.0, and the ability to use the touch screen with gloves or fingernail.

The Lumia 820 is a mass-market phone that will sell at a lower price than the 920. Its key feature is an interchangeable shell that allows users to change the color of the case.

The Lumia 920 comes in red, white, black, yellow, and cyan while the Nokia Lumia 820 comes in black.

The phones are just the latest to be announced by AT&T, which is holding a showcase of its holiday-shopping season products later today. CNET will be there to cover all the details.

About the author

Roger Cheng is the executive editor in charge of breaking news for CNET News. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade. He's a devoted Trojan alum and Los Angeles Lakers fan.
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